Cuff-stretching device



Patented June 1 926 -UNITED STATES PATENT; C

ALBERT aroURNIER, or OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA.

ourr-srnnronme nnvion.

Application filed May 13, 1925. Serial no. "se,o1s.

edges of the cull? tofla tten or stretch the same so that being thus held while drying, the cull when dried' will maintain ll'S fiat tened condition withouti'the necessity of be ing ironed. v I

Other objectsor" the invention is to 'pro vide such a device with simple and eiiicient means serving-not onlyto stretch or flatten the end, but to hold the same fixedly in such condition until pressure is relieved.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will hereinafteiwappear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out'in the appended claims.

The invention is capable of embodiment in a variety of forms for the accomplishment'of the desired end, that herein shown being what I have found to be ei licient, but it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration only without any intent of re stricting the present invention thereto.

The invention in'such preferred form is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which with the numerals of ref erencemarlred thereon form a part of this specification; and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing my improvement applied to a end, the latter being shown in its flattened condition.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of Figure 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of device with parts in section.

Fig. alis an end view ofthe same.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views where they appear. V

In carrying out my invention in the form herein shown, I employ two like members 1 and 2, each having at one end a reduced portion as shown'atB, having one face inclined with relation to the straight edge thereof, as seen best in Figure 3, and what may be termed the inner face of this inclined portion is provided with a plurality of notches or the like 4, clearly seen in Figures 1 and 3.

These two members. are or" a Width relathe tively less than the width of the cult, but capable of being separated so as to increase the distance between their outer or gen,

which outer edges are designed to be engaged With the opposite inner edges of the curl. It is to be understoodthat the device herein shown'and described is'adaptedtor use'with what is known as a tubular cnlii, that is,- a soft cufii having opposite free edges and with the ends open or partially open so that ii /he members 1 and Q may be readily inserted therein at one end and pushed through'so that portions e'zitend beyond the other end oftheculf. I

. Each of the members 1 and 2' isprovided at onee'nd-the end opposite that provided witlrthe notches l-w1tli amember 5 pivotally mounted thereon as at 6,the-other end thereoi carrying a lateral projection as at7, designed to engage in one or the'other of the notches 4 of the adjacent end ofthe opposed member. -The 'n'ien'ibers serve, by

reason of the engagement of their means '7 which are adapted to engage in the notches 4, to spread or separate the members 1 and 2 and to firmly'hold them in such separated condition. I 1

Insome instances the membersfi' may be composed of two parallel bars or the lilzeS, as indicated in FigureQ, so as to embrace the members 1 and 2, the function, however, being the same as i'f'the member 5 were each composed oI a single piece.

This means of separating and holding the members 1 and 2, While having been found efiicient in use, is but one of the various means which I may employ for this purpose and where in the following claims 1 employ the term: means to separate said members and hold them in their separated condr tion, Iwish to be understood as cove anysubstitute for the particular means this purpose herein disclosed.

The mode of use will be apparent.

The logs? of the members 5 being disengaged from the notches-03f the'adjacent members 1 and 2, the said members 1 and 2 are inserted through the ends of the and, one in each direction, as indicated in Figure 1, so asto bring the notched ends of the two members 1 and 2 at opposite ends of the cuff. The members 1 and 2 are made of such relative length that both ends project beyond the ends of the cuff and when having been thus inserted the members 5 are brought into proper position so that the members 7 thereof will ongage in one or the other of the notches 4; of the inclined members 3, and by changing the relative position of these parts the cuii may be stretched more or less into flattened condition. The pressure exerted on the members 1 and 2 serves to maintain the cnfl in such position.

It is to be understood that the cuffs are first washed and rinsed in clear water and the members 1 and 2 then inserted. No starch is nece sary, no ironing required, and the cuffs may be placed over a radiator or other source of heat, or allowed to dry over night in the air; the result is a nice clean pair of perfectly laundered cuffs. There is no wear upon the cuffs as in washing and the length of life of the cuff is materially increased. r

The members 1, 2, and 5' maybe made of aluminum, or other rust-proof material, and can be readily stamped out at minimum cost.

lvlodifieations in detail, proportion of parts, etc, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim as new is 1. Means for flattening and stretching a tubular cuff, the same embodying means insertable through the end of a end; a provision oppositely disposed at opposite ends of said means for actuating said insertable means to exert out-ward pressure against opposite edges of the cuff from the inside thereof, and to hold the cuff in flattened condition, said provision embodying means rigid on one of said insertable means.

2. Cuff-stretching means embodying opposed cuff-engaging members insertable within a cufi', each having at one end a movably mounted member and at the other end relatively fixed means for adjustable engagement by the said movably mounted member on the adjacent end of the opposed cuff-engaging member.

3. Means insertable within a tubular cull to hold the same substantially flat while drying, the said means comprising two independently disconnected members insertable within a tubular cuff, and means carried by vopposite ends of and oppositely disposed on said members to separate said members after their insertion within the cuff and to hold them in distended condition while the cull is drying, the means at one end of each member being rigid therewith.

l. Cuff flattening and stretching means embodying two substantially flat members having each at one end pivoted means and at the other end means formed directly therein tobe engaged by the pivoted means on the other member after the said members have been inserted within a tubular cuff.

5. A device for the purpose described, consisting of two independent members, each with a plurality of notches at one end formed directly in the member, and a pivoted member at the other end engageable with the notches of the other member, said device being insertable within a tubular cult to flatten the same, and to hold the same flattened while drying.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

ALBERT A. FOURNIER. 

